Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2014
Source: Metro (Calgary, CN AB)
Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/Calgary
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4471
Author: Jeremy Nolais
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada)

USERS SAY FEDS BLOWING SMOKE WITH NEW MARIJUANA SYSTEM

Order Marijuana, Don't Grow It: Health Canada

Few suppliers, shipping dangers and a lack of willing doctors are 
among the concerns being listed off by Calgary marijuana users who 
say they're being greatly pained by holes in a new federal system for 
supplying the controversial drug.

Health Canada aimed to criminalize home marijuana grows by April 1, 
but a court injunction has prevented such measures from being fully 
implemented for the time being. Even still, many Calgary marijuana 
users say they've trashed their plants and a handful of entrepreneurs 
have pressed ahead with plans to establish commercial growing 
facilities in rural Alberta areas.

The federal health body does maintain a list of approved marijuana 
suppliers, but none have successfully opened in Alberta to date.

As a result, 20-year-old south Calgary resident Bob, whom Metro 
agreed not to formally identify, is forced to order 8-9 grams per 
month from Vancouver-based supplier Med Pot Now and then buy an 
additional supply off the street.

He suffered a stroke last September and spent 10 months just trying 
to find a doctor that would approve a marijuana prescription.

"They were prescribing me OxyContin, Percocet and all these other 
drugs so quick," he said. "Then, when it comes to marijuana, they're 
all beating around the bush."

Critics fear it may become even more difficult to find a pot-friendly 
doctor after Health Canada announced earlier this month it hopes to 
gather records from marijuana distributors so it can actively track 
where users are getting approval to enter the drug program.

Bob also conceded there's "something fishy" about ordering in 
marijuana from the west coast to his Calgary abode. He said Alberta 
dispensaries would certainly make the process smoother.

But some users say the commercial product lacks a certain quality and 
personal touch.

"It's kind of a joke," said cancer survivor and Calgary resident 
John, who routinely smokes marijuana.

John had hoped to erect a greenhouse to grow his previously approved 
marijuana allotment in the backyard of his northwest Calgary home, 
but abandoned those plans - and his plants - ahead of anticipated 
April 1 changes. Now, he keeps one meagre pot plant on a window sill 
at home and buys the drug off the street for $200 an ounce.

"It's killing me," he said of the cost. "I'm an old man. I don't know 
how much longer I have left on this planet, but I don't need to be 
fighting just to not be in pain."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom